On April 11, an almost 10-year-old Socio-Financial and Academic Survey (popularly known as the Caste Census) ready by the Karnataka State Fee for Backward Courses was dusted off and accepted by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cupboard. Two days prior, the itemizing of the Caste Census within the Cupboard’s agenda for dialogue had shocked many. For the Chief Minister had on a number of events introduced a dialogue solely to rescind it as political implications had been believed to be far-reaching and troublesome to deal with.

The info was collected by the fee by way of government-appointed enumerators in April-Could 2015 from about 1.35 crore households overlaying a inhabitants of 5.98 crores — almost 95% of the then projected inhabitants of 6.35 crores (Census 2011 inhabitants determine for Karnataka is 6.11 crores). Whereas the survey was carried out by H. Kantharaj Fee, the survey report, information and proposals had been submitted by Ok. Jayaprakash Hegde’s Fee in 2024.

Although the survey findings and proposals had been prepared by late 2017, Mr. Kantharaj couldn’t submit the report for the reason that member-secretary had not signed it. Subsequently, the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition authorities and the BJP authorities that succeeded it additionally didn’t obtain the report.

As inhabitants figures grew to become clear after the Cupboard acquired the info, inflicting tremors within the political panorama, the fault line between the politically dominant Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities and different backward class communities grew to become clear. The Cupboard met once more on April 17 to debate the advice, however didn’t resolve on the matter. Whereas additional debate has been deferred once more for Could 2, no clear determination on the fee’s suggestion is anticipated. In the meantime, the difficulty has reached the doorways of the Karnataka Excessive Court docket.

What are the most important findings?

The vexed survey is being keenly watched for inhabitants figures of castes/communities for political causes, although its purpose had been to offer insights into ‘backwardness’ that the federal government may use to develop programmes aimed toward uplifting such communities.

The survey has pegged the overall inhabitants of backward lessons within the State to be about 70%.

Muslims are the one largest bloc with about 75.25 lakhs or 12.58% of the overall inhabitants, adopted by Veerashaiva-Lingayats, a dominant and politically sturdy land-owning group in North and Central Karnataka, with 66.35 lakhs or about 11% of the inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Vokkaligas, a dominant and politically sturdy land-owning group within the Outdated Mysore area, has been put at 61.58 lakhs or about 10.29% of the State’s inhabitants.

The Scheduled Castes represent 18.2% or about 1.09 crore of the inhabitants, and the Scheduled Tribes quantity at 7.1% or 43.81 lakhs. Collectively, each represent 24.1% of the inhabitants. The final class comprising Brahmins, Arya Vaishya, Mudaliars, Nagartharu and a bit of Jains are about 29.74 lakhs or about 4.9% of the inhabitants.

What has the Hegde Fee really useful?

The fee has really useful a rise within the whole reservation matrix for backward lessons from the present 32% to 51%. Based mostly on the weightage given to communities on socio-economic and academic parameters, it has really useful re-classification of castes; As an alternative of the present 5 classes, it has really useful six. It has proposed the elimination of exemption from creamy layer coverage for castes in Class 1, that are the ‘most backward’.

Kurubas, the politically stronger and perceived to be educationally ahead among the many backward class communities, have been moved from ‘extra backward’ to ‘most backward’ class, together with a couple of different castes. Kurubas represent 43.72 lakh or about 7.31% of the inhabitants. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah belongs to the Kuruba group.

The socio-economic and academic information of the communities are but to be launched. Solely the methodology used within the survey, the questionnaire, inhabitants information and proposals for reclassification have been offered to the Cupboard Ministers to this point. The federal government is but to formally launch the report for public dialogue.

How have the politically dominant communities reacted?

The dominant communities have rejected the findings of the report outright, stating that they had been “unscientific”. Each Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha and All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha have sought one other survey, questioning the authenticity of the inhabitants information.

Citing information from earlier commissions, they claimed that Vokkaligas ought to be round 12% to 14% and Veerashaiva-Lingayats round 17% to 22% of the inhabitants. They stated that many households from their communities have been unnoticed of the survey, and that there was confusion in enumerating members of sub-castes. The info is simply too outdated to be accepted was one other criticism.

Cupboard Ministers from these communities have already met individually and closed ranks to register their protest. Strikes are afoot for joint conferences of representatives from each communities to plan protests collectively. Authorized avenues are additionally being explored.

Different communities, together with Brahmins, Christians and Yadavas/Gollas, have additionally said that their inhabitants figures have been under-reported.

How has the fee justified its survey?

The fee stated that the survey was scientific and unbiased, and carried out utilizing authorities equipment. Almost 5% of the inhabitants was unnoticed resulting from causes akin to migration, being absent at house throughout enumeration and lack of cooperation.

Whereas enumeration in rural areas was 99% to 100%, cities had a decrease share, with solely Bengaluru hitting 85%, the fee stated, noting that even the nationwide Census leaves out 3% of the inhabitants. Given the geography and inhabitants measurement, some are sure to be unnoticed, it stated.

Are there different points within the report?

Consultants have been vital of the elimination of exemption from creamy layer coverage to the Class 1 castes which are labelled because the ‘most backward’ among the many backward lessons. Among the many castes listed in ‘most backward’ communities are about 50 nomadic and semi-nomadic communities which have neither discovered illustration in authorities jobs nor the political realm, with literacy ranges nonetheless decrease than 50%.

Eyebrows had been raised over transferring the Kuruba group from ‘extra backward’ to ‘most backward’ class. The group has for lengthy been perceived to have taken reservation advantages in training and public employment. They’ve had good illustration in politics too. The report doesn’t present insights into “satisfactory illustration” that the courts have relied upon to justify the reclassification of classes.

The advice of enhanced reservation for OBCs to 51% breaches the Supreme Court docket’s 50% ceiling for reservation. With 24% reservation for SC/ST and 10% EWS (but to be applied in Karnataka), the reservation matrix will attain 85%, which may invite authorized hassle.

Why has the survey come up for dialogue now?

Thought-about a political minefield, the survey was in chilly storage for almost a decade. The Congress, in its manifesto forward of 2023 Meeting elections, had promised to just accept the findings. Ruling dispensations have been underneath strain after Bihar introduced its caste census findings. Neighbouring Telangana has gone forward with enhanced OBC reservation.

Chief of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s nudge throughout the recently-concluded Congress session at Ahmedabad is believed to have spurred the Congress authorities right here to just accept the report. Occasion insiders additionally consider that the survey was introduced up for dialogue by Mr. Siddaramaiah to consolidate his place as chief of backward lessons and ‘checkmate’ Deputy Chief Minister D.Ok. Shivakumar, who is claimed to be ready on the wings to succeed him.

What occurs subsequent?

The State Cupboard is ready to debate the report once more on Could 2. The dialogue to this point has been solely across the procedures in information assortment. Public Works Minister Satish Jharkiholi has indicated that it might be a yr earlier than the report is accepted.

Regulation and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.Ok. Patil has stated that the Cupboard isn’t any nearer to a dialogue on the survey report. Speculations are rife over a Cupboard sub-committee being set as much as talk about the difficulty earlier than it is delivered to the Cupboard once more at a later date.